What You Can Do
There are many ways for a citizen to get involved in order to make a difference in our state. Some of them require a lot of time and personal energy, while others can be done in only a few minutes per day - it is really up to you. Below you will find a list of some suggested actions that you can take to influence your government and your community.
Sign up for CAN (click for more)
The best place to start is to join together with impassioned people for support, training, and cooperation on activities. The Citizen Action Network is one of Washington's premiere grassroots organizations, and we provide invaluable training, connection to other engaged citizens, and quality resources to all of our members.
There is no charge to join our Network and signing up is easy. Just click here to go to our application page where we'll collect some basic information from you to get started. From there, the sky is the limit.
Here are just a few things you'll have access to as a member:
1. Weekly Alerts - We share important news stories and suggest possible actions to take. These alerts come in both email and audio podcast formats.
2. CAN Activities - The Citizen Action Network provides support and promotion for the independent efforts of each of our members in their communities. We also coordinate our own events on certain pivotal issues and invite our members to join us. You can see an example of one of our events here
3. CAN Member Webpage - The Citizen Action Network has an exclusive webpage that is used to provide our members with resources and tools to enhance their efforts in their community. You can rummage around in our Research Toolbox, link up with other CAN members on our discussions boards, participate in surveys, find contact info for your representatives and local media, or check our comprehensive calendar. This site is dedicated to bringing you the best and most relevant information available. If you are a member of CAN, you should already have your username and password, and you can log in by going to www.effcanmembers.org
4. CAN Classes - CAN provides its members and Washington communities with a variety of different training opportunities. We are committed to having the best equipped and knowledgeable citizens who are able to understand the issues our state is facing and execute strategies to influence the direction we will take. Our classes will help you become that kind of citizen. You can see what courses we have available, as well as when they will be coming to a city near you, by visiting our CAN Classes page .
5. The CAN Community - By joining the Citizen Action Network, you are entering into a community of state-wide leaders and influencers. The leadership of CAN will work hard to help you find others in your area that share your concerns and passions, and to connect you together. This can take many forms, and which form it takes is up to the people of each region. CAN currently has members who have started book clubs, discussion groups, and college clubs, and we are looking to start more each and every day. If you are interested in developing something like this in your area, please contact our CAN Director, Lasse Lund, at LLund@effwa.org. Letter to the Editor (click for more)
Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper can be an effective way to communicate your concerns about the political situation, praise a legislator for a good decision, or share some information that you think the people in your region should hear. Even with the shift of mass communication over to the internet, many people today still enjoy getting their news through print, and you will often find a more dedicated audience there. Getting started is easy; all you need is an idea. We'll walk you through the rest.
You have a few options when it comes to getting trained on writing a good letter to the editor:
1. Visit our Online Classroom and watch our video segments on Persuasive Writing with Trent England
2. Sign up for our Persuasive Writing Workshop. You can see when it is coming to your area by visiting our CAN Classes page
3. You can view examples of other CAN member's work and find tips on writing an effective letter by visiting the CAN Member Webpage. Be sure to have you username and password ready. (Are you a CAN member, but don't yet have access to the CAN Member Webpage? Send an email to CAN@effwa.org and we will supply you with one.)
*If you decide to write a Letter to the Editor, please send us a copy at CAN@effwa.org.
Meet with your Representatives (click for more)
Believe it or not, your representatives want to meet with you, hear your thoughts and suggestions, and do what they can to address them. All it takes is a little prep work. Here are a few suggestions for getting started:
1. Prepare what you want to discuss ahead of time. You'll want to be considerate of your legislator's time, and while they may enjoy chitchat with their constituents, they'll want to accomplish something as well. Outline one or two issue that you would like to cover, and be sure to have some research to back up your claims. Finally, prepare a few suggestions as to the possible actions they could take to remedy the situation.
2. Contact their office and set up a meeting. You can find the contact info for all of your state representatives online at the CAN Member Webpage. Be sure to have your username and password ready. (Are you a CAN member, but don't yet have access to the CAN Member Webpage? Send an email to CAN@effwa.org and we will supply you with one.)
3. Bring some friends. A representative is more likely to take what you have to say into consideration if you bring a group of people who feel the same way. You don't want to overwhelm them with a crowd, but having 2-5 extra people with you can add weight to your message, and make the meeting more fun.
Contact your Representatives (click for more)
While it is probably not quite as impacting as meeting with them face to face, sending an email, writing a letter, or placing a phone call to your representative can be a quick way to let them know what you are thinking about a specific issue. This method can become very powerful when it is coordinated so a large volume of calls, letters, or emails hits the office at the same time. Make sure to be polite and concise in your communication, and to be very direct about the issue you are concerned with.
- Find your representative's contact info at www.EFFCANMEMBERS.org
*If you decide to write your representative, please send us a copy at CAN@effwa.org.
Call into Radio Shows (click for more)
Getting your voice onto the airwaves is another great way to generate awareness and spark discussion about the issues that are most important to you. While it can seem a little intimidating at first, as you get your feet wet you will begin to feel like a natural. The best place to start is by calling shows that generally favor your side of the issue. As you begin to feel more confident in communicating your position, you can then step out and call in to shows on the opposite side.
Here are a few tips for quality call-in:
1. Call Early, Call Often - you'll want to call early in the show to ensure that you get in during the program. If the line is busy, keep calling back.
2. Plan It Out - Pick a single point and do your best to articulate it. You don't want ramble on about several things and not be clear about any of them. Writing an outline of your point and supporting facts is also important; you don't want to get stuck or be stumped while you are on the air live.
3. Be Clear and Concise - Get to your point and make it quickly. Also, try your best to be upbeat and excited while you are on the show. You might feel passionate and even angry over the issue, but you want to rally others to you cause. Channeling that energy into something positive will go a long way towards winning support.
Research Projects (click for more)
Getting your hands dirty with some deep digging research can be one of the most effective ways for the average citizen to invest their energy in a greater cause. The staff here at the Evergreen Freedom Foundation often are required to outsource much of their research projects and are constantly looking for volunteers who will spend time going through documents, running searches on databases, and seeking files from various government departments.
All that is required is some attention to detail, a few hours to spare, and a willingness to contribute. A computer typically helps, but is not required for all of the projects that we do.
If you would like to participate in CAN by becoming a research volunteer, let us know by sending an email to CAN@effwa.org with your contact information and intent.
CAN Volunteer (click for more)
The Citizen Action Network is a growing organization, and as such we are constantly in need of volunteers to help us in our efforts across the state. There are currently several positions that we are in need of filling, each requiring a different kind of skill set and personality. If you would like to contribute to the operation of the Citizen Action Network, take a look at the different roles we are looking to fill and see if it is a good fit for you.
1. CAN Event Promoter - The event promoter is responsible for marketing and advertising CAN events when they are being held in the promoter's community. They will contact local organizations and clubs, put up poster's in public places, send out email ads, and post the event in area newspapers and blogs.
2. CAN Event Host - The event host is responsible for coordinating the detail of CAN event that come to their community. They help to secure the location, purchase and serve refreshments, set up and tear down the facility, and greet incoming attendees.
3. CAN Webmaster - The webmaster is responsible for assisting in the maintenance of the Citizen Action Network's online activities. This includes involvement in the CAN Member Webpage, uStream.tv, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. The webmaster will help with information and content updates, design configuration, and subscription management.
For a full job description of any of these opportunities, please send an email request to CAN@effwa.org.
Testifying at Committee (click for more)
The Legislature convenes in Olympia once every year to discuss and debate bills that have the possibility of being voted into law. The committees that decide on whether a bill should be passed onto the House and Senate meet together in a public venue and allow the testimony of private citizens to help them make their decisions. This is a perfect opportunity for a vocal resident to make their concerns about any bill known.
The Legislative website has a document on how an interested person should proceed in participating and it is quite good. You can find it by clicking on the link below:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/testify.htm
*Be sure to let us know if you plan on testifying by sending us an email at CAN@effwa.org |
